Storage brooder



Oct; 4, 1932.

STORAGE 'BHOODER Filed July 2. 192,9 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. A. SPENCER 1,880,993

G. A SPENCER STORAGE BROODER Oct. 4, 1932.

Filed July 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 George/{Spencer G. A. SPENCER STORAGE BROODER Oct. 4, 1932.

Filed July 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwumtoz Spence!" atbomq Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. SPENCER, or TIPTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CAKES MANUFACTURING 00., or TIPTON', INDIANA, A CORPORATION or INDIANA STORAGE BROODER Application filed July 2, 1923. Serial No. 375,495.

This invention relates to poultry brooders and an object of the invention is to provide an improved brooder in which large numbers of chicks may be brooded economically and in a limited amount of floorspace.

A further object is to provide a brooder with compartments of the same or different temperatures so arranged that the chicks may select that part of the compartment having the temperature best suited to them. I

The invention further consists of improved means for heating the brooder and for vent-i- 'lating the same.

A further object is to provide a brooder which may be easily kept clean and sanitary. Further objects and advantages will be-. come apparent as the description proceeds.

' in section,

"Figure 3 is a partial plan view with parts broken away to show the air circulating means, and

Figure 4: is a section on line 1-4 of Figure 2 In the drawings numeral 10 indicates the legs upon which the structure is supported,

these legs forming in connection with horizontal bars 11 a framework upon which is built a number of compartments and sections of the brooder. The brooder may be, and preferably is, composed of a number of superposed tiers,each tier being dividedinto a number of compartments by means of partition walls 12. The ends 13 of the tiers are closed by any suitable wall material such as celoglass I or some similar material. The outer ends of the compartments are provided with downwardly opening doors 14. The floor of each compartment consists of a screen plate15 of any suitable material, the plates being removably positioned in the compartment and having their sides preferably resting upon the cross bars 11 which form a part of the framework of the brooder. Positioned beneath the floor screens 15 are dropping pans 16. The

pans 16 rest on portions of the cross frame 11 and may readily be taken out to be cleaned.

The inner ends of the compartments are closed by downwardly opening doors 17. These doors do not havea tight fit with the compartment but instead have openings through which heated air may pass into the compartments. The compartments are all divided by means of transverse curtains 18. The cur- .tains divide the compartment into a chamber 19 having a relatively high temperature and a chamber 20 having a temperature slightly less than that in the brooder chamber 19 and which decreases as the outer end of the chamber is approached.

In providing this structure dependence is placed upon the instinctive movement of chicks of all ages toward the space which is of the temperature particularly suited to the age needs of the chick. The tiers of compartments have a closed chamber 21 between them into which chamber heated air is driven and from which chamber the air enters intothe several brooding compartments.

' Mounted on top of thecompartments is a chamber 22 having heating units 23 therein, these heating units being of any convenient sort. Here they are shown as a series of pipes through which any heating fluid medium such assteam, hot water or air may be circulated for heating the air in the chamber. The flow of heating fluid through the conduits may be controlled by means of a valve 24. The top of the heating chamber is provided with a pair of inlet openings 25. These openings may be adjustable by means of slides 26. A fan 27 is positioned above an opening 28 in the lower floor of the heating chamber for circulating air through the chamber and delivering it into the compartment 21. V

In operation fresh air is drawn by the fan 27 through the inlet ports 25 around the heating coils 23 and .through the opening 28 into theohamber 21. The air in this chamber is slightly above atmospheric pressure and is driven through the doors 17 into the compartment '19. This'latter compartment will be maintained at a relatively high temperature, say for example something above 98'degrees. r Theflexible, partition 18 Will maintain the temperature in this chamber at the desired high'degree. Warm air will,

however, pass through and around the flexible'partition; 18-into' the chamber 20. This Y j chamber is open so that the temperature at Y the inner end is only slightly below that in r Y the 'brooder chamber 19,1but tends downl- Ward tovvardthe outeri end approachingthej temperature of'the room in which the brood- 7 :er is placed. The chamber 20 is preferably a the feeding chamber for the chicks. Since v '20- since these older chicks do not require temperature as high as the 'younger'ones. It vvill therefore be seen that my br-ooder'is r suited for chicks of any age 'Wltl1011t any changes of the structure or any change in ffind the temperature that suits their needs V and collect f there. The plurality of tiers jenables 'me to conserve space and thus care 30.

having relatively small floor space; All parts 'of the brooder compartments are readily ac- '7 the chicks may pass freelyfrom one cham ber to anothertheywill instinctively collect in the chamber and in the portions of the chamber best suited to their needs," i. ethe I younger chicks Willtend' to collect and remain inthe Warm'chambers 19, Whereas the older chickens'vvill collect in thechamb'ers the heating medium," since the chickens may fora large number of chickens in a room cessible to be cleaned. a

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art'that various changes may bemade in my c device Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and-therefore I do not limit myself to What is shown in the drawings and described .inthe specificatiombut -only set forth in the' appended claim; 1 Having-thus fully described my said inventionywhat I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: a

" A storage brooder' comprising "groups of super-posed tiers divided into a plurality of a sections, each section being'provided with a Y flexible transverse partition dividing it into inner and'outer compartments, 2, central chamber located between said, groups of tiers,

the sides and top .of said chamber com- V pletely enclosing the sides and topsof said inner compartments and further forming'a iheating chamber above said groups of tiers, V a Wire cl'o'th floor removably positioned in; each section, a removable metal tray secured beneath said floor, a heating unit mounted in said heating chamber, and means for cir- V oulating and forcing the WELIIIIGdfilI' through saidfbrood'er, substantially as set forth.

In Witness Whereof,-I have hereunto set i' my hand'at Washington, D, C. this first day of July, A. D. nineteenhundred and twentyr "n ne", q I T a 1} i if GEORGE A. SPENCER." 

